Menu
EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBSican Gilded Silver Death Mask, ex-Arte Primitivo
Lot 118a
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$5,000 - $7,000
Absentee vs Live bid
Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
May 23, 2019
Set Reminder
2019-05-23 10:00:00
2019-05-23 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Day 2 Ethnographic Tribal Fossils
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-day-2-ethnographic-tribal-fossils-4136
Day 2 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional ethnographic art from around the world. Today's sale will feature Pre-Columbian from the ancient americas, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, and incredible Fossils. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Day 2 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional ethnographic art from around the world. Today's sale will feature Pre-Columbian from the ancient americas, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, and incredible Fossils. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (194)
- Lot Description
Pre-Columbian, North Coast of Peru, Sican / Lambayeque, ca. 10th to 11th century CE. A haunting gilded silver (87% pure) death mask with a broad face, black painted almond-shaped eyes, and a three-dimensional nose. The chin is sharply pointed and the face is constructed from two pieces of silver sheet that are held together with gilded silver "staples". Similarly, the ears and large round earrings are also held in place with "staples" - with many of the original staples remaining. Fascinatingly, two broad bands of cinnabar pigment decorate the face - one across the cheeks, just under the eyes, and the other vertical down from the nose to the tip of the chin, giving the face a colorful appearance. Size of mask: 11.5" W x 7.5" H (29.2 cm x 19 cm); size of frame: 20.25" W x 16.25" H (51.4 cm x 41.3 cm); silver is 87% pure
The mask was not intended to represent an individual, but rather a stylized deity, as all of the known masks from the region follow a very similar formula. In this way, the deceased could readily assume a godly identity. Sican elites were patrons of workshops that made fine metal objects like this, and they took their wealth with them when they passed away. Buried in mounds, these individuals would be entombed in high style. At the site of Batan Grande, for example, a single burial could include up to five masks - one on the head, and the others at the feet. Masks like the one featured here were placed in graves alongside headdresses, scepters, crowns, and ceremonial weapons.
Provenance: private California, USA collection; ex-Arte Primitivo, New York, USA, acquired 15 years ago
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#145837Piece has not been examined outside of its frame. Small tears to peripheries and the delicate silver sheet has been slightly crumpled/bent as shown, notably on the nose. Several of the silver "staples" that held the different components together have been replaced in modern times. In a modern frame.Condition
- Shipping Info
-
All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
-
- Buyer's Premium
